Tim Cook

After the demise of Steve Jobs, the mantle of Apple chief fell on Tim Cook; but the shoes were big to fill. However, Tim Cook took charge his own way and was proud to show the world how he runs Apple.

Cook introduced stock-buyback and charitable-giving programs to customers, made management shake-ups such as firing the person in charge of the mobile operating system iOS, Scott Forstall and retail chief John Browett who were long standing employees. In short, it is widely spoken the he has introduced corporate culture. Cook also recently unveiled the iPhone 5 and the iPad Mini.

Cook’s most noteworthy achievement, however, is how he saw through the patent war win over Samsung. While it’s a little tough to compete with the man who gave the world iPods and iPads, Cook has certainly made his mark.

From shaking up the very foundations of the Indian government to stirring up unseemly controversies, from showing incredible courage in the face of extreme adversities to losing a reputation built over years of hard work in just a blink of an eye, from setting the electoral hustings afire with golden speeches to getting into trouble for not speaking at all, there were many 'newsmakers' in 2012 who caught the common man's imagination. Some made it for stellar reasons, others for all there is wrong with the society. Here are 12 'newsmakers' that deserve a mention. More »

Trying to pick twelve travel destinations in India is a little like choosing the twelve best feathers on a peacock’s train, but pick we must. The most dramatic phenomenon we’ve observed in 2012 is the rising number of Indians choosing their own country for a great holiday. At one end of the spectrum, they are hitchhiking and backpacking. At the other they are patronising the most luxurious hotels and resorts once reserved for tourists brandishing wads of foreign exchange. Keen to experiment, they are experiencing everything from scuba-diving to cycling. Many are taking to wildlife and landscape photography with a passion. Here’s our selection of the 12 most captivating Indian holiday destinations of 2012. Feel free to argue but, most importantly, get up and pack! More »

It was an eventful year in the world of finance and business, one that actively involved all three actors: the government, people and even the common man. From violent employee agitations to controversial reform proposals and volatile economic indicators, we compile the twelve defining news events of 2012. More »